Implements

ABSTRACT

An agricultural tractor has a load supporting area to receive removable working tool and/or container attachments. The supporting area and the attachments have cooperating lifting devices and flaring parts that orient and retain the attachments during operation. Quick release elements are located on the tractor and attachments to cooperate with the lifting devices and lock the attachments in place as same are lowered on the load area. The lifting devices and quick release elements can be hydraulically operated.

nited States Patent [191 van der Lely [451 Sept. 11, 1973 I 1 IMPLEMENTS{76] Inventor: Cornelis vandcr Lely, 7

Bruschenrain, Zug, Switzerland [22] Filed: Apr. 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:26,291

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 7 1 'May 28, 1969 Netherlandsa.69,08076' [52] US. Cl. 214/515, 296/35 A [51] Int. Cl B60p 1/64 [58]Field of Search 214/515, 390;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,119,503 l/l964 Herpich etal. 214/515 X 3,255,906 6/1966 Proler et al. 214/515 X 3,497,092

2/1970 Mclntyre 214/515 X 3,501,040 3/1970 Martelee 214/515 3,501,1653/1970 Nordby 214/515 3,520,433 7/1970 Blackburn.. 214/515 2,172,2449/1939 Grundler 214/515 2,948,427 Claas 214/515 Primary ExaminerAlbertJ. Makay Attorney-Mason, Mason & Albright [5 7 ABSTRACT An agriculturaltractor has a load supporting area to receive removable working tooland/or container attachments. The supporting area and the attachmentshave cooperating lifting devices and flaring parts that orient andretain the attachments during operation. Quick release elements arelocated on the tractor and attachments to cooperate with the liftingdevices and lock the attachments in place as same are lowered on theload area. The lifting devices and quick release elements can behydraulically operated, i

11 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 11, 1973 3;757,976

1O Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CORNEL/s VflNDfl? 4549 Patented Sept. 11,1973 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 my 2 E f N W MY 5 W 0 Patented Sept; 11, 1973 10Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR am/415 z mv DEE [ELF Patented Sept. 11, 19733,757,976

10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR GPA 4 l FA/ 36p [54 F Patented Sept. 11, 19733,757,976

10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR [ZR/V5415 raw mm lfzv o j i Patented Sept.11, 1973 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR .05? [1 '7 Patented Sept. 11, 197310 SheetsSheet 9 A INVENTOR Cb/P/YKA l6 Bay/v 06?? [4 orgy IMPLEMENTSAccording to the invention the tool, the machine or the loading surfaceis constructed so that in the operational state it is located at leastpartly above the tractor, the coupling means being arranged at the lowerend of the tool, the machine or the loading surface and constructed sothat they can co-operate with the lifting members of the tractor whichmembers are capable of lifting the tool, the implement or the loadingsurface as a whole in a direction of height.

According to a second aspect of the invention at least three couplingmembers are arranged, in operation, in a horizontal plane and providedwith downwardly orientated openings for receiving the coupling membersof the tractor.

According to a third aspect of the invention the coupling means comprisedownwardly projecting conical members.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention the tool, the implement orthe loading surface comprises frame portions by which the tool or theimplement can be coupled completely on the top side of the tractor.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention the coupling means arefastened to at least one frame beam extending to the rear, to whichframe beam the tool, the implement or the loading surface is pivotallyattached.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same maybe carried into effect, reference is made by way of exampleto theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tool, an implement or a loading surface,in this case a loading shovel or excavating shovel, coupled-with thetopside of ,a tractor,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combination of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an elevation and partly a sectional view of one embodiment ofone of the coupling means of the tool, the implement or the loadingsurface and the locking system thereof adapted to co-operate with one ofthe lifting members of the tractor,

FIG. 4 is an elevation and partially a sectional view of a secondembodiment of one of the coupling members of the .tool, the implement orthe loading surface and the locking system thereof,,adapted toco-operate with one of the lifting members of the tractor,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a coupling member and of a. locking devicenear the center of the tractor,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a lifting device, in this case a hoistingcrane, coupled with the top side of a tractor,

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the combination of FIG. 6,

FIG. '8 is a side elevation of an agricultural implement, in this case acombine harvester, coupled with the top side of a tractor,

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the combination of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a'loading surface coupled with the topside of a tractor,

FIG. 11 is a planview of the combination of FIG. l0,

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a lifting mem- FIG. 16 is a sideelevation of a combination in accordance with the invention of atractor, a loading space and a forage harvester coupled to'the front ofthe tractor.

The terms tool, implement or loading surface are to denote allagricultural implements, excavating implements, earth-displacing tools,lifting devices, construc tion implements, bulldozers, loading surfacesand loading spaces and all tools and implements for which coupling witha tractor may be essential or useful for possibilities of use, withrespect to cost price, possibilities or exploitation and for driving thetool, the implement or the loading surface.

FIG. 1 shows a loading shovel or excavating shovel 1, connected with twoarms 3 so as to be pivotable about a'horizontal transverse pivotal shaft2, said arms being each pivotally connected with a substantiallyvertical jib 5 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal, transversepivotal shaft 4, extending transversely of the direction of movement A.The two pivotal shafts 4, each associated with one arm 3, are shortshafts not extending between the jibs 5. The two substantially flat jibs5 have identical shapes, extend parallel to each other at a distancefrom each other so that the two arms 3 just embrace these jibs. The jibs5 are rigidly connected with each other on the top side by means of aconnecting piece 6, which also extends horizontally and transversely ofthe direction of movement. The lower sides of the jibs 5 are connectedwith two frame beams 7 of theframe of the tool, the. implement or theloading surface, said beams extending horizontally and parallel to thedirection of movement A and being interconnected at the front end,viewed in the direction of movement, by a transverse beam 7A. Thedistance between the frame beams 7 in this embodiment is smaller thanthe distance between the jibs 5, which is enabled by collars 8. Theframe beams 7 are provided with coupling means 9 intended for couplingthe tool or the implement with a tractor 10. The tractor 10 comprisesdrivable, steerable front wheels ll and drivable, steerable backwheels12, which wheels hold a frame 13. The engine of the tractor, whichpreferably has a power of to 300 HP is arranged in the frame 13. Thetractor is provided at the front and at the rear with a two-pointlifting device (not, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As a matter of course, athree-point lifting device may be arranged both at the front and atthe-rear of the tractor. The tractor is equipped with a hydraulic systemdriven by one or more oil pumps coupled with the engine.

The tractor l0 is'furthermore characterized by the provision of an uppersurface 14, which is substantially flat and horizontaland which formspart of the over-all top surface of the tractor.

The tractor is furthermore provided, for example, near the front wheelsor back wheels, with lifting members operating in upward direction andformed mainly by four upwardly extending hydraulic cylinders 15..Thepiston rods of these cylinders 15, emerge from the tops of thecylinders. The cylinders 15 are coupled in known manner with saidhydraulic system of the tractor and are constructed so that the pistonrods can be fixed in any desired position relative to the cylinders. Thecylinders 15 are actuated in common and are constructed and disposed sothat the top ends of their piston rods are always located in the samehorizontal plane, when the piston rods move relatively to the cylindersor are fixed in a given position relative to the cylinders. Separateactuation of the piston rods is, however, also possible.

The tractor comprises furthermore a driver seat 16 near the front sideof the tractor, viewed in the direction of movement A. The driver'splace is formed by a driver seat 16 surrounded by a driver cabin 17.

The coupling members 9 provided on the lower side of the tool, theimplement or the loading'surface are arranged on the frame beam 7 sothat they match the piston rods of the cylinders 15 associated with thelifting members of the tractor, the top ends of which rods, in thelowermost position, are located near the top side of the tractor,whereas in other positions they may project above the upper surface 14of the tractor. The coupling members 9 and the cylinder 15 are arranged,on plan,.

at the corners of a rectangle. It will be obvious, that in principle notmore than three coupling members and hydraulic cylinders are necessary,but it is preferred to provide four of them, because they can then bearranged pairwise on each side of the tractor, the upper surface 14 ofthe tractor being thus left free for receiving differently shaped tools,implements or loading surfaces.

In a horizontal direction at right angles to the direction of movement Athe distance between two coupling members 9 is preferably about twicethe distance between two coupling members viewed in the direction ofmovement A.

The point of gravity of thetool, the implement or the loading surface islocated, on plan, within the figure formed by the lines of connectionbetween the coupling members 9. The coupling members 9 and thecorresponding cylinders 15 are arranged on the frame 13, viewed fromaside, substantially at the level of the axles of the front wheels andback wheels respectively so that the tractor frame is substantially notloaded as a whole by the tool or the implement, the forces beingdirectly transferred to the wheel axles.

Between the arms 3 of the tool or the implement'of FIGS. 1 and 2 atransverse arm 18 is pivoted to it a hydraulic cylinder 19 by means of ahorizontal pivotal shaft extending transversely of the direction ofmovement, one end of said cylinderbeing pivotally coupled with theloading or excavating shovel 1 by means of a horizontal shaft. Byactuating the cylinder 19 the blade of the loading or excavating shovel1.can be turned with respect to the arms 3.

Between each jib 5 and an arm 3 a hydraulic cylinder 20 is pivotallycoupled by means of horizontal transverse shafts 21 and 22 respectively,by means of which the arms 3 and hence the'blade of the loading orexcavating shovel 1 can be swung upwards and downwards.

The pivotal shaft 4 is arranged with respect to the frame beams 7forming the frame of the tool, the implement or loading surface so thatit is located near and behind the front wheels of the tractor and alsoabove the top surface 14 of the tractor. Thus the arms 3 arecomparatively long and with the same stroke of the cylinders 20 theblade of the loading shovel 1 can be displaced over a great height,which may be important, for example, for loading silos. Thecomparatively high position of the pivotal shaft 4 contributes thereto.

The hydraulic system of the tool or the implement by which the hydrauliccylinders 19 and 20 can be actuated is constructed so that it can becoupled with the hydraulic system of the tractor.

The frame of the tool or the implement, in this case the frame beams 7,is provided with means for supporting the tool or the implement from theground, when it is out of operation.

The frame beams 7 are provided for this purpose with supports 23 and 24,located near the front side and behind the jibs 5 respectively. By thesesupports the tool or the implement can be held on the ground, when it isdiscoupled from the tractor and is put down separately out of operation.

The support 23 is formed by an external tube vertically secured to thecenter of the transverse beam 7A, in which an inner tube is axiallydisplaceable and fixable by a-locking pin 25 in the external tube bothin the inserted position and in a plurality of outer positions. On thetop sides of the frame beams 7 horizontal, hollow tubes 26 of circularsection extend transversely of the direction of movement A, each ofwhich tubes accommodates an inner tube, which is axially displaceablerelative to the external tube 26. One end of each inner tube has securedat right angles to it a support 24. The inner tubes held in the externaltubes 26 are locked by the locking pins 27 against axial relativedisplacement relative to the external tubes and against relativerotation.

The tool or the implement is formed so that the distance between thelower side of the connecting piece 6 and the lower side of the frame,here the frame beams 7, is larger than the distance between the top sideof the tractor frame and the highest point of the tractor. Moreover, thedistance between the two jibs 5 is larger than the maximum width of theparts of the tractor projecting above the top side of the tractor frame,in this case the driver cabin 17.

The coupling members 9 may each be formed by downwardly tapering partssecured to a frame beam 7, i.e., parts flaring in downward direction andmatching the conical end of the corresponding piston rod 28 of ahydraulic cylinder 15, secured to the tractor (FIG. 3). The lower end ofa part 9 is provided with a dished guide plate 29, stiffened by ridges30. At the side of the part 9 a hydraulic locking cylinder 31 isconnected with the hydraulic system of the tool, the implement or theloading surface, which system communicates in turn with the hydraulicsystem of the tractor. The piston rod of the locking cylinder 31 forms alocking pin 32, by which the piston rod 28 can be locked to the couplingmember 9 by passing the locking pin 32 through the bore 33 in the pistonrod 28 and the bore 34 in the coupling member 9 as soon as the conicallower end of the coupling member 9 is in intimate contact with the topend of the piston rod 28.

The coupling members 9 may furthermore be formed so that each of themcomprises a conical part 9 secured to a frame beam 7 and flaring inupward direction (FIG. 4). The corresponding hydraulic cylinder 15associated with the lifting members of the tractor is provided with apiston rod 35 having a coupling piece 36. The coupling member 9 (FIGS.3, 4) may be conical or key-shaped, the directions of length of the keys(in these Figures at right angles to the plane of the drawing) beingalternately turned through with respect to the direction of length of anadjacent coupling member. Thus large faces of application are formed ina horizontal direction. The coupling member 36 is provided at the topwith a conical recess fitting around the conical part 9 and with adished guide plate '37 having.

ridges 38. A lockingpin 39 associated with the coupling member of thetractor can be passed through bores 40 and 41 so that the tool, theimplement or the loading surface is locked by means of the conical part9 to the piston rod 35 of the tractor. The locking pin 39 is held inthis embodiment by mechanical agency (not shown) in the locked state bythe tensile spring 42 which extends between the coupling member 36 and alever 44, adapted to pivot around the shaft 43. One end of the lever hasrotatably secured to it a guide roller 45, which is adapted to rollbetween the guide plates 47 during the displacement of the locking pin39 through the bores 40 and 41. The other end of the lever 44 hassecured to it a pull rope, Bowden cable or the like, which is alsocoupled with other lifting members of the tractor. A stop 49 preventsthe locking pin 39 from snapping out of the coupling piece 36 when thepull rope 48 is actuated. As a matter of course, a locking system bymeans of a hydraulic cylinder is also possible in the structureof FIG.4.

It is, of course, possible to equip a tool, an implement or a loadingsurface partly with coupling members having downwardly flaring parts andpartly with upwardly flaring parts. I v

A further method of coupling the tool, the implement or the loadingsurface with the tractor and to lock it in position is illustrated inFIG. 5, where the coupling members comprise supports 50 formed byexternal, block-shaped bodies having conical recesses 51 on the bottomside. These recesses 51 are cup-shaped and widen in downward direction.The supports 50 are arranged at such places of the frame of the tool orthe implement that the piston rods of the cylinders of the tractorsimultaneously enter the cup-shaped recesses 511. The tool, theimplement or the loading surface bears by the supports 50 on the tractorand is held by the tractor with the aid of locking hooks 52 provided oneither side of the tractor. The locking hooks 52 located approximatelymidway between the front and back wheels of the tractor, at least one ofwhich is provided on either side of the tractor, are each adapted topivot about a horizontal shaft 53, journalled in the tractor frame andextending at right angles to the direction of movement A. A hook-shapedend engages, in-the operational state of the tool, the implement or theloading surface, a pin 54 on the frame thereof, said pin forming alocking member and being' associated with the coupling members andextending horizontally at right angles to the direction of movement A.The pin 54 is secured to the frame of the tool, the implement or theloading surface at such a place that in the operational position it islocated approximately midway between the front and back wheels of thetractor. The other part of the locking hook 52 is pivotally coupled withthe piston rod 56 of a hydraulic cylinder 57 by means of a horizontalshaft 55, while near the end a heavy tensile spring 58 is coupled withthe locking hook 52. The other end of the spring58 is coupled with thetractor frame by means of a console 59. The desired tension of thespring 58 can be adjusted by means of a stretching member located nearthe console 59. In the working locking hook 52 exerted on the pin 54 isobviated because the ends of the piston rods then enter the cupshapedrecesses 51 of the supports 50 in one direction. Obviously the directionof the horizontal component of the force exerted by the locking hook 52on the pin 54 may be chosen to be orientated rearwardly, for example, byarranging the locking member of FIG. 5 in mirror fashion relative to avertical plane going through the pin 54; by an inclined disposition ofthe shafts 53 a lateral component can be obtained. If the cylinders 57provided on either side of the tractor (FIG. 5) are energized so thatthe shaft 55 moves to the front relatively to the tractor, the'spring 58being thus loaded more heavily, the top end of the locking hook 52 turnsupwardly and rearwardly around the pivotal shaft 53 so that the pin 54is free. The tool, the implement or the loading surface is then freelyjournalled by the cupshaped supports 50 on the tractor. I

With the coupling members shown in FIG. 3 the locking is obviated bywithdrawing the locking pin out of the bores 33 and 34 by means of thecylinder 31. Since the cylinder 31 is actuated by the hydraulic systemof the tool, the implement or the loading surface, this system has to bediscoupled only after unlocking from the position the cylinder is notenergized; the lockinghook hydraulic system of the tractor. This iscarried out by means of known hydraulic quick-releases.

Mechanical actuation of the cables or ropes 48 of the locking system ofFIG. 4 results in the withdrawal of the locking pin 39 from the bores 40and 41. The cables or ropes 48 have then to be secured in place againstthe action of the spring 42.

I After having been unlocked in the manner described above, the tool orthe implement is bearing loosely on the tractor. By energizing allhydraulic cylinders 15 the tool or the implement is lifted upwardly as awhole approximately parallel to itself and held in the lifted state at asmall distance from the tractor. The hydraulic system of the tool, theimplement or the loading surface is then already discoupled from thehydraulic system of the tractor.

The locking pin 25 of the support 23 is then disengaged (FIGS. 1 and 2),after which the inner tube is shifted downwardly in the external tubeand then fixed by the locking pin 25 in a position in which the lowerend of the inner tube is just suspended above the ground. The lockingpins 27 of the hindmost supports 24 are released and the parts of thesupports 24 extending at right angles to the direction of movement aredrawn out of the external tubes 26 until the parts of the supports 24initially extending in the direction of movement are located beyond theback wheels 12 of the tractor. Then the parts extending in the directionof movement are turned through about in downward direction, the innertube turning in the external tube 26 (position indicated by broken linesin FIG. 2). These tubes are refixed relatively to each other by thelocking pins 27. The lower end of the then vertical parts of thesupports 24, which may be telescopically extensible, are then alsolocated just above the ground. The piston rods of the cylinders 15 ofthe tractor are completely drawn in so that the tool or the implementbears on the supports 23 or 24 on the ground. The tractor is drivenbackwards, the cabin 17 passing through the porch formed by the jibs andthe connecting piece 6. The tractor is then free of the tool or theimplement, which is independently disposed on the supports 23 and 24.The tractor can be recoupled with the tool or the implement or with adifferent tool, implement or loading surface equipped with a frame.bearing on supports in a similar manner by carrying out theabovementioned operations in the reverse order. It is advantageous thatthe fairly large, dished guide plates 29 and 37 permit of moving thepiston rods of the cylinders rapidly to the correct place relative tothe coupling members 9 without the need for frequent manoeuvering of thetractor. The guide plates 29 and 37 then serve as finders.

It is thus possible to fasten different tools, implements or loadingsurfaces to the same tractor without the need for using predeterminedcombinations of tools and tractors so that considerable saving isobtained; th tractor can thus be used universally.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the combination of a tractor with a lifting device,in this case a hoisting crane 60. Corresponding parts are designated bythe same reference numerals. The tractor 10 is provided in thisembodiment with a two-point lifting device at the front 61 and atwo-point lifting device at the rear 62 and moreover with a powertake-off shaft 63, projecting to the rear and driven by the engine ofthe tractor, said shaft being driven in two directions. The hoisting arm64 is pivotally coupled with the jibs 5 by means of a horizontal shaftand can be actuated by means of a hydraulic cylinder 65. The jibs 5 aresecured to a circular platform 66, which is pivotally connected with theframe beams 7 so that it can rotate through 360. The platform 66 isprovided at its circumference with teeth engaged by a gear wheel whichcan be driven by the power take-off shaft 63 of the tractor. The powertake-off shaft 63 can be coupled to this end near the rear end of theframe beams 7 with a driving mechanism for the platform 66. This knowndrive of the platform 66 is not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for the sake ofclarity. The frame beams 7 are provided with coupling members 9, whichmay be of the construction described with reference to FIGS. 3 and/or 4.The hydraulic system of the hoisting device can be coupled with thehydraulic system of the tractor. The control-panel 67 of the hydraulicsystem of the hoisting device 60 is disposed on the frame of thehoisting device so that it is located at the side of the driver cabin17, when the hoisting device is coupled with the tractor. Thus thedriver can handle the control-panel 67 from the cabin 17.

In contrast to FIGS. 1 and 2 the supports 24 and 24A of FIGS. 6 and 7are secured to the frame beams 7 so that on plan they are located at thecorners of a rectangle, when they are in the extended and tilted-downpositions. The supports 24A are constructed in the same is to beunderstood to mean the surface formed, on plan, by the rectanglesurrounding at least the tractor wheels. FIGS. 8 and 9 show anagricultural implement, in this case a combine harvester 68, which iscoupled with the top side of the tractor. The mowing and conveyingportion 69 of the harvester 68, located in front of the tractor, isconnected by a rod system 70 with the foremost two-point lift 61 of thetractor. The threshing part 71 of the harvester 68 joins, viewed fromaside, the substantially flat upper surface 14 of the frame 13 of thetractor 10 and bears in the manner described above on the piston rods ofthe cylinders 15 by means of cou-- pling members and locking members ofthe kind shown in FIGS. 3 and/or 4.

It is possible for the combine harvester 68 to occupy the whole surfaceof the tractor by the displaceability of the driver seat 16, surroundedby the cabin 17, with respect to the tool or the implement and withrespect to the tractor. To this end the frame 13 of the tractor isprovided with a console 72; a vertical pivotal shaft 73 is journalled inone end of the console 72 and holds one end of an arm 74. The other endof the arm 74 holds the driver cabin 17, which is pivotable about avertical pivotal shaft beneath the cabin with respect to the arm 74. Thearm 74 is pivotable with respect to the tractor and the cabin 17 ispivotable with respect to the arm 74 by means of pivotal mechanisms (notshown) provided in the tractor frame and in the hollow arm 74respectively and driven by the hydraulic system of the tractor.

The combine harvester 68 is furthermore provided with extensiblesupports 75 and 76 on either side of the harvester, each support beingformed by an external tube fastened to the harvester and an inner tubeadapted to slide vertically with respect to the external tube and to befixed in a plurality of positions relative to the external tube by meansof locking pins 75A and 76A respectively.

The mowing and conveying portion 69 is pivotally connected with thefront of the threshing portion 71 by means of a horizontal shaftextending transversely of the direction of movement.

For removing the combine harvester from the tractor the mowing andconveying portion 69 is pivoted upwardly by means of the foremosttwo-point lift 61 to an extent such that its lower point is at a higherlevel than the upper side of the driver cabin 17, after which it isfastened to the top side of the threshing portion 71 by means-of afixing member 69A.

The combine harvester is then displaced upwardly as a whole by means ofthe piston rods of the cylinders 15; then the inner tubes of thesupports 75 and 76 are extended to just above the ground and fixed inposition relative to the external tubes. By lowering subsequently thepiston rods of the cylinders 15 the combine harvester is free of thetractor and bears on the ground. Then the tractor can be driven frombeneath the combine harvester 68.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a side elevation and a plan view of a tractorcomprising a pivotable driver place or cabin 17. The cabin is shown in apivoted position (FIG. 11), so that the whole length and width of theframe 13 of the tractor is available for being occupied by a loadingspace 77 (FIG. 10). This loading space is provided at the front with apick-up 78 for lifting crop lying on the field and with a feeder 79arranged between the piclc-up 78 and the loading space 77, for feedingthe lifted crop into the loading space77. The

loading space comprises a closed bottom 80. A rolling floor 81 isarranged above said bottom 80 (shown schematically in FIG. 10). Therolling floor 81 is driven by the power take-off shaft 63 of thetractor, which shaft is readily detachably coupled with a transmission64 arranged beneath the bottom 80 of the loading space 77. The detailsof the drive of the rolling floor are not shown in FIG. 10. The loadingspace 77 has sidewalls 82, a front wall 83 and a rear wall 84, which iswholly or partly detachable. When the loading space 77 filled with crophas to be emptied, the rear wall 84 is removed wholly or partly and thecrop is removed by actuating the rolling floor 81 with the-aid of thepower take-off shaft 63 of the tractor.

The loading surface formed in this case by the rolling floor 81 issupported from the frame beams 85. The frame beams 85 have extensiblesupports 24 and 24A, which are adapted to be tilted down. The operationof these supports is similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 6and 7.

The coupling members 9 of the loading surface in conjunction with thelifting members'of the tractor are shown in FIG. 12.

The closed bottom 80 beneath the rolling floor 81 forming the loadingsurface is secured to the upper side of the frame beams 85. At the placeof the coupling members 9 part of the bottom side of the frame beam 85is removed and provided with a downwardly tapering supporting piece 86,the lower edge of which projects beyond the, frame beam, viewed onplan,.and forming a finder. This lower edge is held by ridges 87 on theplates of the frame beam 85.

The lifting members'88 of the tractor are secured to the frame wall 89of the frame 13 of the tractor.

A lifting member comprises a piston rod 90 in a cylinder 91. The latteris secured to a base member 92 having a rounded-off periphery fitting ina cavity 93 of the supporting plate 94. The supporting plate 94 isdirectly welded to the frame wall 89. The piston rod 90 has at its lowerend a thinned portion 95 surrounded by a ring 96. The cylinder 91 has aprolongation at the top said prolongation 97 having various oil seals98, 99 and 100 and an abutment ring 101. The hydraulic connecting ducts,are passed through the hole 102 in the frame wall and connected to thenipple 103, which is secured to the cylinder 91..

The piston rod 90 is provided at the top with a conical guide member104, the largest diameter of which is approximately four times thediameter of the piston rod 90. The'lower edge of the conical surface ofthe guide member 104 joins a second conical guide member 105,

r the cylinder 91 invariably occupies a substantially vertical positionin the no-load state both in the position shown in FIG. 12 and in theposition in which the piston rod 90 is urged upwardly.

The top side of the cylindrical wall 109 has an upwardly flaring rim 110having a conical surface; the apex of the cone of said surface is equalto that of the guide member 105.

When oil is admitted via the nipple 103 beneath the piston rod 90, thelatter will move upwardly, while it is held in a substantially verticalposition by the leaf springs 106. The end of the stroke of the pistonrod 90 is attained when the ring 96 abuts against the lower end of theprolongation 97.

When the loading space of FIGS. 10 and 11 bears on the ground by thesupports 24 and 24A (position shown in broken lines), the tractor 10 isdriven in the reverse beneath the loading space 77, the driver cabin 17being displaced out of the plane of symmetry of the tractor (FIG. 11).The supports 24 and 24A are extended as is shown in broken lines in FIG.7 so that the tractor can drive beneath and between the supports. Theposition in which the lifting members 88 are located approximatelybeneath the coupling members 9 is shown in FIG. 12. In this position oilis admitted beneath the piston rod 90 via the nipple 103 so that thepiston rod 90 moves upwardly until the top of the conical surface of theguide'member 104 touches the conical supporting member 86 on the lowerside, however, in general out of the center of the coupling member 9(FIG. 12). When the piston rod is further moved upwardly, the piston rodand the cylinder are caused to tilt with .respect to the wall 109; thebase piece 92 turns in the cavity 93. At least one of the leaf springs106 is thus bent over towardsthe cylinder 91 so that the piston rod 90and the cylinder 91 are subjected to spring pressure tending to urgeboth of them back into the initial positions. The deflection isrestricted by the stop 101 coming into contact with the wall 109.

When in this way all lifting members 88 of the tractor are centered inthe coupling members 9, the oil pressure is increased so that thesupports 24 and 24A are released from the ground and the loading spacebears on the lifting members 88. As soon as the supports 24 and 24A arefree of the ground, the force exerted by l the leaf springs 106 bentover into an asymmetrical powhich is flaring, in contrast to the firstguide member 104, in upward direction and is secured near the lower endto the piston rod 90.

Near the lower side of the cylinder 91 upwardly diverging leaf springs106 are provided. The lower ends of these leaf springs 106, four ofwhich are secured to the cylinder 91, are held on the cylinder by rigidclamps 107. The leaf springs 106 are preferably made of spring steel andhave inwardly bent-over portions 108 near their upper ends. The leafsprings 106 engage by the outer sides of the bent-over portions 108 theinner side of the cylindrical wall 109 by pre-stress, said wall formingthe outer wall of the composite lifting member 88.

The leaf springs 106 have the same dimensions, the same materialproperties and the same shape and are arranged symmetrically around thecylinder 91 so that sition on the cylinder 91 tends to urge the cylinderinto a substantially vertical position. When oil is allowed to flow outof the cylinder 91 after the supports 24 and 24A have been slipped inand tilted up, the piston rod moves downwardly into the cylinder 91. If,for example due to an eccentric load, the piston rod 90 and the cylinder91 remain in a tilted position on the wall 109, the piston rod and thecylinder are automatically centered because the rim 110 moves the guidemember into the central position. The loading space then bears on thelifting members 88 of the tractor.

In order to lock the loading space in position a lock ing device 111 ofthe kind shown in H6. 13 is provided. This device is locatedapproximately midway between the front wheels and back wheels of thetractor (FIG. 10).

The frame beams 85 of the loading surface 81, as shown in FIG. 13,are'provided with horizontal sleeves 112, extending transversely of thedirection of movement and provided on the side of the plane of symmetryof the tractor with conical recesses flaring towards said plane ofsymmetry.

On the inner side of the frame wall 89 of the tractor, a horizontal tube113 extends transversely of the direction of movement. The tube 113accommodates a hydraulic cylinder 114. One side of the cylinder 114 isclosed by an end wall 115. A rod 116 is secured at right angles to saidend wall. The rod 116 is provided with a long pin 117 having a conicalend 118 fitting in the conical recess of one of the sleeves 112. The rod116 has coupled with it a substantially vertical pin 119, the top end ofwhich projects through an elongated hole 120 in the tube 113. Thehydraulic piston rod 121 of the cylinder 1 14 is coupled by one end alsowith a long pin 122 having a conical end 123 also fitting in the conicalrecess of a sleeve 112. Near the coupling between the piston rod 121 andthe pin 122 a vertical pin 124 is passed by its top end through a secondelongated hole 125 of the tube 113. The cylinder 114 is provided at thelower end with a flexible oil inlet and outlet duct 126 and 127respectively, passed through an elongated hole in the lower part of thetube 113. The cylinder 114 is displaceable to a restricted extent in thelongitudinal direction of the tube 113; this movement is limited by oneof the pins 119 and 124 reaching one end ofthe one of the elongatedholes 120 and 125.

When the cylinder 114 islocated at a given place in the tube 113 andwhen the loading space 77 bears on the lifting members '88, the pistonrod 90 being centered in the lowermost position,as is described withreference to FIG. 12, the conical recesses of the sleeves 112 willcorrespond with the places of the pins 117 and 122. This can be achievedin a simple manner by determining the places of the coupling members 9and of the sleeves 112 in the frame beams 85 by means of a jig.

When oil is-admitted into the cylinder 114, the piston rod 121 movesoutwardly until the conical end 123 comes into contact with the sleeve112. At this instant the vertical pin comes into contact with the end ofthe elongated hole 125 so that the conical end 123 cannot urge one ofthe frame beams away from the tractor frame. When more oil is admitted,the cylinder 114 will move to the left (FIG. 13) and hence also the pin117 secured thereto. The end 118 of said pin will enter the recess ofthe other sleeve 112 until the vertical pin 119 attains the end of theelongated hole 120. v

A further increase in oil pressure will not cause the frame beams 85 todeflect laterally, but the force exerted by the fluid pressure will betaken over at the ends of the elongated holes 120 and 125 as an axialtractive force by the tube 113. The loading surface or loading space isthus locked to the tractor. Obviously this locking device may be usedfor tools or implements.

The driver need drive the tractor only approximately beneath thecoupling members 9 of the tool, the implement or the loading surface.Engagement with the tractor and locking are subsequently performed in asimple manner from the driver cabin by hydraulic and mechanical agency.

The tractor shown in FIG. 14' comprises a driver seat 16 surrounded by acabin 17 and arranged in this advantageous embodiment on a pivotable rodsystem 74A. This rod system forms, viewed from aside, a para]- lelogramof rods with shafts 74B arranged on both sides of the frame 13. The rodsand shafts 74B are pivotable in the frame 13 by means of the horizontalshafts 74C,

extending transversely of the direction of movement and are otherwisepivotally connected with the bottom of the cabin l7. Owing to thisstructure the cabin 17 is displaceable parallel to itself in a verticalplane parallel to the plane of symmetry of the tractor.

As is shown in FIG. 14 the tractor 10 holds a loading surface 128bearing on the screw-jacks 15 and 88. The loading trough 128 comprises asupporting frame 129 having in this embodiment outer beams 130 and innerbeams 131 (FIG. 15). An outer beam 130 is provided at suitable placeswith fastening means or ears 132, which can be fixed by means of alocking pin 133 to a beam 134. The beam 134 in this embodiment isprovided with cup-shaped orientation and fastening means 135 coveringcompletely the end portions of the rods of the hydraulic cylinders 15and 18 respectively in the horizontal position of the loading trough sothat the supporting beams 134 are satisfactorily fixed with respect tothe jacks l5 and 88. The supporting beams 134, which extend tranverselyof the longitudinal axis of the tractor, constitute the supporting andfastening member proper for the loading trough 128. The frame 13 of thetractor comprises furthermore a supporting member 136 having a pivotablehydraulic lifting cylinder 137, the piston rod of which is pivoted to anarm 138. This arm forms part of a supporting structure 139, of the outerbeam 130. Said arm is connected with two transverse beams 139 and 140 ofthe framework formed by the outer beams 130. In order to move theloading trough 128into the tilted position, the pressure in the cylinder137 is increased, which is performed from the displaceable cabin 17 bymeans of a controlpanel 67 on the beam 130 (similar to that shown inFIG. 6). The loading trough is thus moved into the position shown inbroken lines in FIG. 14 around a shaft 141 extending transversely of thelongitudinal axis of the tractor (see also FIG. 15). It should be notedthat before the loading trough is tilted the locking has to be released,that is to say, the pins 133 have to be removed from the ears 132 andthe beams 134.

As is shown in the elevation of FIG. 15 the sidewall 142 and the floor143 of the loading trough 128 are secured to the framework formed by theouter beams 130. Consequently a displacement of the framework around thepivotal shaft 141 results in a displacement of the sidewall and thefloor 142 and 143 respectively.

It is furthermore advantageous that the sidewall 142 is fastened to thebeam 130 by means of a pivot 144 so that the sidewall 142 forms apivotable sidewall or loading flap. The pivotal shaft 141 is fastened bymeans of a supporting bearing 145 to the inner beams 131 of theframework 129 (see also FIG. 14). The inner beams are in turn fastenedto the supporting beams 134. When the loading trough 128 is tiltedbackwards, the locking bolts 133 are removed from the locking devicesothat the loading trough 128 will lie loosely on the supporting beams134 and by energizing thecylinder 137 the loading trough can be tiltedbackwards around the pivotal shaft 141; however, the inner beams 131,fastened to the supporting beams 134, remain in a horizontal position.In this advantageous embodiment the loading trough 128 can be tiltedlaterally. For this purpose the locking pins have to be removed on oneside so that after the hydraulic cylinder 137 is energized the loadingtrough can tilt around the locking pins 133 which are not removed.

FIG. 16 shows an embodiment in which the tractor according to theinvention is provided at the front with a forage harvester 146 and witha tiltable loading trough 128. From this Figure it will be apparent thatthe driving device of the forage harvester is coupled with the foremostpower take-ofl shaft 147 of the uni-' versal tractor; the cabin 17 islocated between the forage harvester 146 and the loading trough 128. Thedriver can control the operation of the forage harvester 146 and thetilted positions of the loading trough 128 in a suitable manner. I

From these examples it will be apparent that many possibilities areoffered by providing the tool, the implement or the loading surface witha frame having coupling means on its bottom side in accordance with theinvention, which means are located in a horizontal plane in the workingposition, said means permitting of coupling rapidly the tool, theimplement or the loading surface with the lifting members of a tractorand of discoupling the same by using specially designed couplingmembers, while it is furthermore possible to arrange various tools orimplements'on the top side of the same tractor. Thus a tractor can beemployed very efficiently for many purposes. Particularly a combinationof a tool or an implement with a tractorhaving a substantially flat topside and of a driver seat displaceable relative to the tool and theimplement and to the tractor frame provides a possibility of attachingvarious very large tools or implements.

Having thus described my invention-what I claim as new and desire tosecure by letters patent of the United States is:

1. An agricultural tractor having a frame and a plu- I rality of spacedapart hydraulically operated lifting members with upwardly movable meanssupported by said frame, a removable'agricultural attachment forconnection to the upper surfaces of said tractor, said attachment havingcoupling members including downwardly orientated openings for receivingsaid upwardly coupling members, said quick release means comprising amovable locking device that is hydraulically displaceable to interfitwith said upwardly movable means and said coupling members when saidlifting members and said coupling members are in full engagement withone another, said quick release means including pin means that holds thecup-shaped parts and said upwardly movable means together after saidattachment is lowered and mounted in operative position on said tractor.

2. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least three spaced apartcoupling members are arranged in a horizontal plane on the bottom ofsaid attachment in operating position.

3. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attachment is securedat least partly above said tractor in operating position.

4. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attachment has fourcoupling members and said tractor has an equal number of lifting memberson said frame.

5. A tractor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said coupling members arespaced apart and located at the corners of a figurative rectangle whenthe tractor is viewed in plan. 1

6 ..A tractor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lifting members arepositioned within the uppersurfaces of said frame.

7. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said quick release means issupported on a frame beam of said attachment. i

8. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said quick release means ispivotally connected to thetractor and passes through said liftingmembers to lock said tractor to said attachment.

9. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein support elements are mountedon the lower frame of said attachment and said support elements arepositionable to support said attachment above the upper surfaces of saidtractor.

10. A tractor as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least part of saidsupport means is pivotableabout an axis extending transverse to thedirection of movement of the tractor.

11. A tractor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said support means ispivotable to be secured in a substantially horizontal position above theframe of said tractor.

1. An agricultural tractor having a frame and a plurality of spacedapart hydraulically operated lifting members with upwardly movable meanssupported by said frame, a removable agricultural attachment forconnection to the upper surfaces of said tractor, said attachment havingcoupling members including downwardly orientated openings for receivingsaid upwardly movable means, said coupling members being cup-shaped andcomprising downwardly flaring parts adjacent said openings, whereby saidattachment can be oriented in position as a whole with said liftingmembers, hydraulically operated quick release means on said tractor thatsecures said attachment to the tractor, at least one of said liftingmembers of said tractor comprising conical parts that taper in an upwarddirection to fit in with the openings of said coupling members, saidquick release means being positioned adjacent said coupling members,said quick release means comprising a movable locking device that ishydraulically displaceable to interfit with said upwardly movable meansand said coupling members when said lifting members and said couplingmembers are in full engagement with one another, said quick releasemeans including pin means that holds the cup-shaped parts and saidupwardly movable means together after said attachment is lowered andmounted in operative position on said tractor.
 2. A tractor as claimedin claim 1, wherein at least three spaced apart coupling members arearranged in a horizontal plane on the bottom of said attachment inoperating position.
 3. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidattachment is secured at least partly above said tractor in operatingposition.
 4. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attachmenthas four coupling members and said tractor has an equal number oflifting members on said frame.
 5. A tractor as claimed in claim 4,wherein said coupling members are spaced apart and located at thecorners of a figurative rectangle when the tractor is viewed in plan. 6.A tractor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lifting members arepositioned within the upper surfaces of said frame.
 7. A tractor asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said quick release means is supported on aframe beam of said attachment.
 8. A tractor as claimed in claim 1,wherein said quick release means is pivotally connected to the tractorand passes through said lifting members to lock said tractor to saidattachment.
 9. A tractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein support elementsare mounted on the lower frame of said attachment and said supportelements are positionable to support said attachment above the uppersurfaces of said tractor.
 10. A tractor as claimed in claim 9, whereinat least part of said support means is pivotable about an axis extendingtransverse to the direction of movement of the tractor.
 11. A tractor asclaimed in claim 10, wherein said support means is pivotable to besecured in a substantially horizontal position above the frame of saidtractor.